MILLINER JAY BRIGGS: BORN OF MYTH & FANTASY

Louise Boughton

​SøEdited Team
SøBeauty Director / Article:  Astrid Kearney
SøEditor-in-Chief: Chris Saint Sims 
​SøFashion Director: Savannah Barthorpe​​

Jay Briggs is the spellbinding milliner rewriting the language of modern fantasy fashion. The headpieces accompanying here draw from a retrospective of his work including  Malleus Maleficarum,  from his 2013 graduate collection. A debut shaped by theatre, ritual, and the creative vision nurtured by his beloved nan, whose support instilled his instinct for empowered, mythic femininity.
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His latest collection, Domina, is released in early 2026 signalling a bold evolution. Charged with imagination and authority, it reveals a designer who has refined his craft and deepened his voice. These headpieces do more than adorn; they transform, weaving history, folklore, and couture into wearable storytelling.

​Briggs earned a BA (Hons) in Fashion Design from the University of Salford Manchester, where Malleus Maleficarum premiered at Graduate Fashion Week and immediately marked him as a talent to watch. A formative internship with milliner Piers Atkinson expanded his sense of possibility, reinforcing that audacious ideas can and should be realised. Predominantly self-taught in millinery, he fuses precision with imagination to create sculptural headpieces that are dramatic, romantic, and fiercely feminine.

His work has captivated UK and international press, appearing in British Vogue, Vogue Italia, Vogue Russia, Vogue Sposa, ELLE Serbia, Harper’s Bazaar India, V Magazine, Wonderland, Schön!, Vision China, Mia Le Journal, and SHOWstudio. Collaborations include Selfridges’ 2015–2017 Christmas windows, a bespoke commission for Eastpak, and Modemuseum Hasselt’s “Haute-à-Porter,” with recent designs featured in Boux Avenue’s 2023 “Goddess of the Night” campaign.

Kylie Minogue, Paloma Faith, Daphne Guinness, Kimbra, Laura Mvula, and Dr. Colleen Darnell have all entered Briggs’ extraordinary world, where headpieces are not merely worn but inhabited, commanding presence, narrative, and imagination.

Sonja Llamas

​Can you take us back to the beginning of your journey in millinery? What initially drew you to this craft, and were there any specific moments or influences that made you decide to pursue this path?

I see a headpiece as a form of art and have always been drawn to them through my love of history—how they were used to show off one’s social status and the empowerment they gave the wearer.
It wasn't until I undertook a six-month internship during university that I got to work with the incredible milliner Piers Atkinson (and later, after I graduated), from whom I gained invaluable hands-on experience. Above all, he made me understand that everything you can imagine is real, and it was that which became the turning point.

Maksim Koloskov

As a milliner, your work is so intricately tied to both craftsmanship and creativity. Can you talk us through your creative process from an initial idea to the final design? Are there any unexpected moments of inspiration that shape your work?

It all starts with a concept ,a story I have woven from a book I have read or a moment in history ,which I then escape into to create my own fantasy. I will then sketch out ideas to define the silhouette of the collection before moving to the mannequin head, where all the magic happens. This is where I work with the fabrics and hone the design to create the final piece.

Farha Farooque

​What advice would you give to aspiring creatives who are trying to bring their unique vision to life, especially when faced with challenges or self-doubt in the process?
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I think the connection between your ‘being’ and your work is extremely important, as your creative vision should simply be an extension of yourself. It is this which makes it believable.
You will always be your biggest critic and doubt your choices; it goes hand in hand with being a creative. It’s so easy in these moments to compare yourself to other people. It doesn’t matter how many likes a picture gets on Instagram or how many followers someone has, always remember Jesus had twelve. If you don’t believe in your vision, how can anyone else?
Belief is the key.

Milliner @jaybriggs_millinery
Photographer @mylasvisuals Shot @dccstudios
Makeup Designer @astridkearneymakeup
Wig Designer @kostrukhair
Model @gemmahuh 
Set Designer @mhjlawrence
Illustrators @drawingcaberetcouture
@louiseboughton
@sonjajallamas
@farhafarooque.fashion
@supermalevich

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